Mum fighting for anonymous messaging apps to be banned

A TERRIFIED mum whose teenage daughter was told to kill herself by online trolls is calling for anonymous posting apps used by bullies to be banned.

A MUM from Queensland is living in fear after she took a look at her 13-year-old daughter’s phone and saw sickening anonymous messages.

She says the abuse — including a message saying “I hope SHE KILLS HERSELF. Seriously nobody will care” — was sent through an app called Sarahah.

“No one, especially our youth, should have to read messages like this about them,” said the Rockhampton mum, called Katrina, said in an online statement.

“These messages were sent through an app called Sarahah, which can be downloaded for free on both the App Store and on Google Play.

“Sarahah is an app where people can make anonymous accounts and send anonymous messages to and about others.”

The terrified mother said her daughter doesn’t even have this app — but the bullies sent the abuse about her to one of her friends. Katrina has now started an online petition calling for Sarahah and similar apps to be banned.

Formspring, one of the original social question and answer sites, was shut down in 2013 after controversy over its usage by teenage bullies.

Sarahah allows people to make anonymous accounts and send anonymous messages.

”My daughter and I have been shattered by this app,” she wrote.

“Both the App Store and Google Play have policies against apps that facilitate bullying, harassment or self harm. Why then is Sarahah still available on these platforms?

“No parent can stomach this abuse of their children and I cannot even imagine losing my beautiful, sweet girl to suicide. This is why we need to protect our children.”

The mother said she was also inspired to create the petition after reading about the high-profile suicide of Amy “Dolly” Everett — which captured worldwide attention this week.

The 14-year-old from the Northern Territory, who was the face of an Akubra hats campaign, died last week after relentless online bullying — says her family.

Katrina finished her petition with the hashtag “#doitfordolly” and “#speakevenifyourvoiceshakes” — inspired by a drawing Dolly made just before her death.

Dolly drew this before her death and her family are hoping it will change lives. Source: Supplied.

Her dad Tick Everett took to Facebook earlier this week to suggest Dolly’s tormentors attend her memorial.

“Please come to our service and witness the complete devastation you have created,” he wrote on Sunday.

“I know for some suicide is considered cowardly but I guarantee those people wouldn’t have half the strength that my precious little angel had. Doll had the strength to do what she thought she had to do to escape the evil in this world.

“However, unfortunately, Dolly will never know the great pain and emptiness left behind.

“If we can help other precious lives from being lost and the suffering of so many, then Doll’s life will not be wasted.”

Amy Everett modelled as "Dolly" for Akubra hats. Source: Supplied.

Even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull posted a tribute to Dolly on social media.

“As a parent and as a grandparent, my heart breaks for Dolly and her family,” Mr Turnbull wrote in a post on Akubra’s Facebook page.

“From pain and loss we must renew our commitment to say no to bullying … Every step must be taken to ­reduce the incidence of bullying, whether offline or on, and eliminate it wherever we can.”

The Everett family has pledged to “facilitate positive change for other young lives” in remembrance of Dolly, by establishing a foundation in her memory to raise funds to address bullying.

News.com.au has contacted Sarahah to comment on the petition.

If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit Lifeline.org.au

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